Jennifer Rothschild Show

Did you know friendship isn't just a social add-on or an emotional luxury? It's part of God's blueprint for life. So how do you build meaningful relationships in a world where we're more relationally disconnected than ever?
Pastor and speaker Wayne Francis joins me to explore how Jesus modeled friendship—and what His example can teach us about doing relationships well.
Drawing from Scripture, lived experience, and years of ministry in New York City, Pastor Wayne explains why meaningful friendship requires vulnerability—which can sound very scary, especially if you fear rejection, struggle to trust, or want to stay in control. But when your security and identity are rooted in Christ, it's not as risky as you may think.
We talk about what it takes to move beyond surface-level connections, how to take the first step toward deeper friendship, and why vulnerability is worth the risk—even when it feels uncomfortable. So settle in, and let's learn how to do relationships like Jesus.
***
LINKS MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE
Get Wayne's book, Make Friends with Anyone: Practicing God's Design for Real Friendship in a Lonely World
Visit Wayne's Website
 
RELATED EPISODES
Can I Stop Feeling Lonely? With Alli Patterson
Can I Build Meaningful Friendships in My Busy Life? With Bailey T. Hurley
Can I Figure Out Friendship as a Grown-Up? With Lisa Whelchel
Can I Choose Community Over Self Reliance? With Heather MacFadyen
Jennifer Spills the Beans With Her BFFs On How To Do Friendship
Can I Love My Neighbor As Myself? With Jada Edwards
 
SUBSCRIBE
Get my weekly email Java with Jennifer, to be notified when a new episode releases.
LET'S CONNECT
Facebook | Instagram | X (Twitter)

VISIT THE SHOW NOTES ON MY WEBSITE
LEARN MORE

Have you ever thought, "This is what I prayed for—so why am I struggling with it?" Maybe your prayer was answered, but now you're feeling overwhelmed, exhausted, or even sad. It can be confusing, right?
Well, be encouraged, my friend, because today, author Melissa Miller helps us understand why living in God's "yes" can sometimes be harder than we expected.
Drawing from Scripture, neuroscience, and her own experience, Melissa explains why blessings can be both beautiful and difficult at the same time. She'll help you put words to what you're experiencing and see that just because you're struggling doesn't mean you're ungrateful or shouldn't feel the way you do.
So, if you're living in a season you once prayed for but wondering why it feels so hard, listen in. You may discover that the mess doesn't mean something has gone wrong—it may simply mean you're still learning how to live in the blessing.
***
LINKS MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE
Hope of Heaven Tour
Get Melissa's book, But I Prayed for This: What to Do When Living in God's Yes Is Harder Than You Expected
Visit Melissa's Website
 
RELATED EPISODES
Can I Feel Grief and Gratefulness at the Same Time
Can I Trash Expectations and Still Be Happy? With Amanda Held Opelt
Can I Get Rid of Unrealistic Expectations?
Can I Build a Life I Love Without Having Everything I Want? With Meghan Ryan Asbury
Can I Still Trust God When Everything Seems To Go Wrong? With Anne Graham Lotz & Rachel-Ruth Lotz Wright
Can I Uncover the Purpose of an Unexpected Season? With Nicole Unice
 
SUBSCRIBE
Get my weekly email Java with Jennifer, to be notified when a new episode releases.
LET'S CONNECT
Facebook | Instagram | X (Twitter)

VISIT THE SHOW NOTES ON MY WEBSITE
LEARN MORE

What if we haven't gotten Christianity wrong—but haven't fully appreciated it for all it's worth? That's what we're exploring today with Dr. Alister E. McGrath, a renowned Christian scholar, Oxford professor, author, and former atheist.
After sharing his journey from atheism to faith, Dr. McGrath explains how Christianity isn't just true; it can profoundly transform our lives. Because it isn't just an idea to believe; it's a reality to experience.
And even though it's more than 2,000 years old, Christianity can still speak powerfully to the human heart, addressing many of life's biggest questions, such as "Who am I? What am I worth? What's my purpose? And what can I do?" 
So, if your faith has become all too familiar—or if you're wondering if what you believe is even relevant—listen in! This conversation will give you a fresh perspective and help you see what a difference Christianity can make.
***
LINKS MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE
Get Alister's book, Rethinking Christianity: A Thoughtful Guide to a Life-Changing Faith
I also recommend Alister's books, C. S. Lewis -- A Life: Eccentric Genius, Reluctant Prophet and Science & Religion: A New Introduction
Visit Alister's Website
 
RELATED EPISODES
Can I Learn From C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien's Friendship? With Joseph Loconte
Actor Max McLean on C.S. Lewis and the Most Reluctant Convert
Can I Rekindle My Faith? With Dr. Mark Yarbrough
Can I Let Go of What's Keeping Me From Soul Revival? With Lisa Whittle
Can I Have Doubt and Faith at the Same Time? With Mary Jo Sharp
Can I Pray Through My Doubt? With Niki Hardy
 
SUBSCRIBE
Get my weekly email Java with Jennifer, to be notified when a new episode releases.
LET'S CONNECT
Facebook | Instagram | X (Twitter)

VISIT THE SHOW NOTES ON MY WEBSITE
LEARN MORE

What do you do when life doesn't turn out the way you hoped—and you're left wondering, "Where are You, God?"
Singer-songwriter, author, and my friend, Tammy Trent, knows that question personally. When a devastating tragedy struck, Tammy had to grieve not only what she had lost, but also release the life she thought she would have. It wasn't easy, but as she walked through her deep pain and loss, she learned to trust God's presence and character.
So today, Tammy gives us biblical insight and practical tools for facing the hard questions we all ask in seasons of pain and disappointment. We talk about navigating unmet expectations and unanswered prayers, grieving without losing hope, and finding the strength to endure when life feels impossible.
If you've ever felt like God is silent, distant, or nowhere to be found in the middle of your pain, Tammy will remind you that your questions don't disqualify your faith—and that you are never alone.
***
LINKS MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE
Listen to Tammy "spill the beans" with Ann Voskamp, Annie F. Downs, Liz Curtis Higgs, and Shaun Groves
Get Tammy's book, Where Are You Now, God? Discovering the Unshakable Truth that You're Never Alone
Visit Tammy's Website
God is Just Not Fair: Finding Hope When Life Doesn't Make Sense - book by Jennifer Rothschild
Missing Pieces: Real Hope When Life Doesn't Make Sense - Bible study by Jennifer Rothschild
 
RELATED EPISODES
Can I Survive a Lifequake and Trust That God's Got Me? With Tracie Miles
Can I Survive the End of the World As I Know It? With Amy Lively
Can I Make It Through the Hard Days? With Ann Voskamp
Can I Still Thrive When My Life Falls Apart? With Niki Hardy
Can I Find Grit to Show Up When I Want to Shut Down? With Lisa Whittle
Can I Hold On When I Want to Let Go? With Sheila Walsh
Can I Get Through Spiritual Disappointment? With Dr. Alicia Britt Chole
 
SUBSCRIBE
Get my weekly email Java with Jennifer, to be notified when a new episode releases.
LET'S CONNECT
Facebook | Instagram | X (Twitter)

VISIT THE SHOW NOTES ON MY WEBSITE
LEARN MORE

What if the hard things in your life aren't just something to get through—but opportunities to grow stronger on the other side?
In this episode, Leslie Bosserman and I talk about emotional endurance: what it is, why it matters to your faith, and how you can develop it even when you're not fully aware of your emotions. Leslie teaches you how to build your emotional muscles so you can face challenges and persevere through setbacks and disappointment.
Plus, Leslie will teach you to "Say Goodbye to Someday," a skill that will help you stop living in the shoulds, coulds, and somedays and start asking what God might be doing in you right now.
So, if you're facing a difficult season, feeling stretched too thin, or simply want to be prepared for whatever comes next, this conversation will give you practical tools to keep going, keep growing, and trust God with the process.
***
LINKS MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE
Get Leslie's book, Emotional Endurance: Faith-Fueled Skills for Bouncing Back
Get your FREE GIFTS from Leslie
Watch Leslie's TEDX talk
Visit Leslie's Website
Me, Myself, & Lies: What to Say When You Talk to Yourself - book by Jennifer Rotschild
 
RELATED EPISODES
Can I Be Resilient When Life Is a Mess? With Daniel Fusco
Can I Build a Resilient Faith for a Resilient Life? With Jay Hewitt
Can I Persevere When I Want to Quit? With Nick Connolly
Can I Manage My Emotions and Find Healing? With Dr. Mark Mayfield
Can I Prevent Mental and Emotional Meltdowns? With Jeff Peabody
Can I Choose Sabbath? With Travis West
 
SUBSCRIBE
Get my weekly email Java with Jennifer, to be notified when a new episode releases.
LET'S CONNECT
Facebook | Instagram | X (Twitter)

VISIT THE SHOW NOTES ON MY WEBSITE
LEARN MORE